Silvio Berlusconi has been formally placed under investigation on suspicion of paying for sex with a 17-year old girl, according to a statement issued today by prosecutors in Milan.

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He was further accused of abusing his position as Italy's prime minister by bringing pressure to bear on the police to cover up his alleged relationship with the girl, who was working as a prostitute. The two alleged offences carry sentences totalling 15 years in jail.

The age of sexual consent under Italian law is 14, but paying for sex with a prostitute under 18 is an offence that carries a sentence of up to three years. Politicians and others found guilt of abusing their position risk jail sentences of up to 12 years.

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The statement said Berlusconi, who has not been charged, had been invited to present himself for questioning. The prosecutors said he had been formally made a suspect on 21 December, but the news only broke today on the website of the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Berlusconi's legal team said today the investigation was "absurd and groundless" and the allegations raised had already been denied by the main figures in the case. They called the inquiry a "very serious interference in the private life" of the prime minister.

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Teenage Prostitution and abusing his position as PM to cover it up are pretty big charges to say the least. This should certainly be interesting as to where this leads.

Silvio Berlusconi has been formally placed under investigation on suspicion of paying for sex with a 17-year old girl, according to a statement issued today by prosecutors in Milan.

Click to expand...

He was further accused of abusing his position as Italy's prime minister by bringing pressure to bear on the police to cover up his alleged relationship with the girl, who was working as a prostitute. The two alleged offences carry sentences totalling 15 years in jail.

The age of sexual consent under Italian law is 14, but paying for sex with a prostitute under 18 is an offence that carries a sentence of up to three years. Politicians and others found guilt of abusing their position risk jail sentences of up to 12 years.

Click to expand...

The statement said Berlusconi, who has not been charged, had been invited to present himself for questioning. The prosecutors said he had been formally made a suspect on 21 December, but the news only broke today on the website of the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.

Berlusconi's legal team said today the investigation was "absurd and groundless" and the allegations raised had already been denied by the main figures in the case. They called the inquiry a "very serious interference in the private life" of the prime minister.

Click to expand...

Teenage Prostitution and abusing his position as PM to cover it up are pretty big charges to say the least. This should certainly be interesting as to where this leads.

Silvio accused of fakin' it...Berlusconi accused of delaying trial by exaggerating illnessWed, Mar 13, 2013 - CRYING WOLF? Although prosecutors called Silvio Berlusconis eye infection a ruse, experts later said his absence from the legal proceedings was justified

Italys billionaire former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was in legal trouble again on Monday, suspected of exaggerating an eye infection to delay one trial against him and facing fresh charges of bribery. The 76-year-old has been in hospital in Milan since Friday, but prosecutors have said it is all a ruse to put off the onslaught as several cases finally begin to catch up with him. The drama intensified when lawmakers from Berlusconis center-right People of Freedom party marched into the Milan court building in protest.

They called for Berlusconis trial for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute and abusing the powers of his office to be suspended. I think there is a judicial plot against Berlusconi, said Laura Ravetto, a senior party official who joined the protest. The 200 or so Berlusconi supporters also sang the national anthem outside the court. Judges had ordered medical experts to be sent into the clinic where Berlusconi is staying, after prosecutors said an eye infection was not a legitimate excuse for suspending a trial. The experts later concluded his absence was justified and the court decided to adjourn the trial to today to set a new calendar of hearings.

The trial, which began almost exactly two years ago, had already been put on hold on Friday because Berlusconi said he was suffering uveitis, an irritation of the uvea. His doctors say Berlusconi also has hypertension. The court was to have heard the prosecutions sentencing requests on Monday. A verdict in the trial on the alleged crimes dating back to 2010 when Berlusconi was still prime minister had been expected this month, but that is now in doubt. The flamboyant media baron and three-time prime minister is accused of having sex for money with the then 17-year-old Karima el-Mahroug, an exotic dancer nicknamed Ruby the Heartstealer.

Berlusconi risks up to three years in prison on that charge and up to 12 years for allegedly putting pressure on police to have her released from custody when she was arrested for petty theft. However, he is unlikely to spend any actual time behind bars as the law is generally lenient for convicts over 70. Both Berlusconi and el-Mahroug deny having sex. Berlusconi is also appealing a tax fraud conviction linked to his business empire. That hearing was allowed to go ahead on Saturday and a ruling is expected this month. Last week the scandal-fraught billionaire was convicted over the publication of a police wiretap of a rival politician in a newspaper he owns and sentenced to one year in jail.

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